Requests for help flood Bay Area mystery benefactor @HiddenCash

The man behind the anonymous Twitter account @HiddenCash has received hundreds of emails from people pleading for his financial help after announcing that he had hidden envelopes of cash in the Bay Area.

Emails from people looking for help with their mortgage, downpayment for a home, their daughter’s tuition and their mother’s surgery have flooded the anonymous benefactor’s inbox.

He unknowingly shared his email on Twitter and was surprised by the number of responses seeking his help.

But the mystery donor, who would only describe himself as a wealthy real estate developer, said he does not want his generosity to be confused.

“Don’t look for this to be a lottery ticket or handout to solve your problems,” he said. “It’s not going to change your life. There are a lot of opportunities to make a living.”

He hopes his endeavor becomes a national effort with benefactors in other cities following his actions. So far, he said a benefactor in Colorado appears to be on board.

“I don’t understand why more people don’t give back,” he said.

The mystery benefactor, who says he is between 35 and 45 years old, described himself as “old-school,” becoming active on Twitter only to carry out the scavenger hunt.

His tweets, however, have created a frenzy of followers quickly reacting to his clues, hoping to find the hidden, cash-filled envelopes.

The donor started tweeting clues Friday about the envelopes in the Bay Area. His drops then moved to San Jose, where one follower was seen on live TV, running toward the hidden envelope and screaming “there it is.”

On Wednesday, the mystery donor arrived in Los Angeles to make a drop at a memorial fountain in Griffith Park. He plans to continue making his envelope drops for five days in the L.A. area.

He announced Thursday a second drop would be at 7 p.m. where “a robin and eagle might keep their money.” Earlier that day, he hinted that the next envelope may include $1,000 or tickets to the Burning Man Festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert.

The idea of scavenger hunt came to him after he earned a six-figure profit on a real estate deal.